The stadium echoed with the roar of the crowd, as it witnessed Junior making his way towards the plate. Junior took one good look at the pitcher, and he was ready. The throw came, but Junior didn't move.
UMPIRE
Strike one!
Cried out the umpire. "No big deal" thought Junior to himself.
UMPIRE
Strike two!
Still, Junior didn't move. "I've got his measure now. I'll definitely hit the next one!". But the third throw never came. He turned towards the umpire, who looked at Junior and screamed, in X-466's voice...
UMPIRE
WAKE UP! WAKE UP!
Junior was stunned by the sudden change of circumstances.
UMPIRE
ALL CANDIDATES OUTSIDE IN 30 HUMAN MINUTES!
Junior woke up to the clone's voice reverberating throughout the facility.
X-466
You know the drill! Who's not outside in time will be automatically disqualified.
LWAZI
I thought we were done with this crap!
Said Lwazi, with a resigned tone.
JUNIOR
It doesn't bode well, does it?
The two of them begrudgingly got up, before realising that the sun hadn't even risen yet.
LWAZI
What kind of challenge do they have in mind for us?
JUNIOR
I just hope it's not relay running...
It was going to be worse.
On their way outside, Junior spotted a disheveled Miss Roberts. She was usually impeccable, but now her clothes were wrinkled, her hair messed up.
JUNIOR
Lwazi, I'll be right out.
He excused himself from his roommate and approached her.
JUNIOR
Miss Roberts, what is going on?
MISS ROBERTS
We are dealing with some crazy individuals, that's what's going on...
She snorted in response.
JUNIOR
You look like you haven't slept much.
MISS ROBERTS
I look like I haven't slept at all. At the last moment, those clones decided to change everything we had agreed on and now...
She bit her tongue and changed the topic.
MISS ROBERTS
You have a golden opportunity during the next test, Junior. Don't make it go to waste, but beware of Irina. Unlike you, she's willing to do whatever it takes.
And she left. She had warned him with similar words before, but this time she sounded worried. Junior had to remind himself that she was the same person who, just the previous night, had threatened to harm his family. Would she actually carry out that threat? Could she? He knew he didn't want to find out.
He caught up with Lwazi just as X-466 approached.
LWAZI
Did she tell you anything I should know?
JUNIOR
She didn't tell me much, but she got me worried nonetheless...
LWAZI
Should I be worried too?
X-466
You should all be worried.
Even though the clone wasn't addressing Lwazi directly, he was definitely answering his question.
X-466
Did you really think it would be this easy? That everything you had to do was to play nice with each other? Work as a team? Well, you can stop dreaming now...
For a moment Junior wondered wether X-466 could actually read minds...
X-466
Because things are about to get serious. For this next stage, I came up with something very special...
He paused, a vicious smile on his face.
X-466
You have been divided into teams, and you will be racing against the other teams and against each others in order to remain in this selection. Let it be known from the start that if you want to succeed, it must be either with your entire team or on your own.
A murmur of apprehension arose from the crowd.
X-466
You will be taken to the middle of... what have you named it?
He asked, to no one in particular.
X-466
The Sonoran Desert...
He suddenly remembered.
X-466
Where you are expected to complete a course that will truly put you to the test. You will not be given any provisions, and at each checkpoint, only the first person arriving for each team will be allowed food and water.
At that, several people in the room started protesting loudly. As usual, X-466 ignored them.
X-466
There is only one way to pass this test. Get to the end of the course within the time limit. That can be accomplished either with your entire team or on your own. If only one person from the team makes it to the end, all teammates left behind will be disqualified. If you take too long to make it to the end or you don't get there at all, you will also be disqualified. If you're lucky...
With a menacing smirk on his face and without another word, he left.
JUNIOR
A race in the desert. That must have been the change of plans Miss Roberts was so concerned about...
LWAZI
No food and no water... they have seriously decided to play with our lives this time...
The two boys were so absorbed in their thoughts that they didn't hear her approaching from behind. She tapped on Junior's shoulder, and he spun around.
JUNIOR
Irina!
The first thought that crossed Junior's mind was that she was even prettier up close. The first words she spoke to him were
IRINA
Stay out of my way or die, Space!
"Lovely. Just lovely..." Junior thought to himself.
